Vanderbilt University is looking for Research Finance Accountant, Sr. in Nashville, TN. This local job opportunity with ID 3866240092 is live since 2026-10-03 14:21:06.

Overview

In this role you enable accurate post award financial management for a complex portfolio of sponsored awards. You work within the Research Finance Team to ensure compliance, timely reporting, and robust accounting across federal and non federal awards. You mentor junior staff, drive process improvements, and support award closeout and audits. You collaborate with departments and PIs to uphold university policies and sponsor requirements while leveraging system capabilities for automation and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provide post award accounting and compliance support throughout the award lifecycle
• Review expenditures for accuracy, allowability, and proper accounting treatment; perform reconciliations
• Prepare sponsor required financial reports and manage award closeout for a complex portfolio
• Apply sponsor rules, Uniform Guidance, GAAP, and university policies to expenditure management and reporting
• Maintain integrity of sponsored project records via journal entries, internal controls, and documentation for audits
• Support responses to external audits (Single Audit and sponsor audits) with clear documentation
• Identify and implement process improvements to automate and optimize systems and policies
• Manage tasks using Microsoft based task tracking and adapt to software changes

Key requirements

• 3+ years of direct post award grants administration (preferred)
• Bachelor's degree (accounting emphasis preferred)
• CPA or MACC/MBA preferred
• Strong Excel, Word, PowerPoint skills; MS 365 proficiency
• Ability to present financial information to non financial audiences
• Strong time management and teamwork abilities
• Experience in higher education or externally regulated research environments preferred
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and communicate effectively
• Team oriented, adaptable, and open to change

• collaboration
• effective communication
• adaptability
• Excel
• Word
• PowerPoint